Table of Contents
Chapter 3: Rocks
Section 3: Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
A. Formation of Metamorphic Rocks
1. Metamorphic rocks is rock that has been
changed because of changes in temperature
and pressure, or the presence of hot watery
fluids
2. Changes that occur can be in the form of the
rock, the composition of the rock, or both.
3. Metamorphic rocks can form from igneous,
sedimentary, or even other metamorphic
rocks.
Metamorphic Rocks
B. Heat and Pressure
1. Rocks beneath Earth’s surface are under
great pressure from rock layers above them.
2. Temperature also increases with depth
in Earth.
3. In some places, the heat and pressure are
just right to cause rocks to melt and magma
to form.
4. Different types of metamorphic rock may
form from the magma.
Metamorphic Rocks
B. Heat and Pressure
5. In other areas where melting doesn’t occur,
some mineral grains can change by dissolving
and recrystallizing—especially in the presence
of fluids.
6. Sometimes, under these conditions, minerals
exchange atoms with surrounding minerals and
new, bigger minerals form.
Metamorphic Rocks
B. Heat and Pressure
7. Depending upon the amount of pressure and
temperature applied, one type of rock can change
into several different metamorphic rocks.
8. For example, shale, a sedimentary rock, will
change into slate, a metamorphic rock.
Heat &
pressure
Shale
Slate
Metamorphic Rocks
B. Heat and Pressure
9. As increasing pressure
and temperature are
applied, the slate can
change into phyllite,
then schist, and
eventually gneiss.
10. Schist also can form
when basalt is
metamorphosed, or
changed, and gneiss can
come from granite.
Slate
Metamorphic Rocks
C. Hot Fluids
1. Hot fluids from magma flow through
space in and between underground rocks.
2. The hot fluids are mostly water, but they
also contain dissolved elements and
compounds.
3. These fluids can react with the rock they
flow through and change its composition.
Metamorphic Rocks
C. Hot Fluids
4. Most fluids that
transform rocks
during metamorphic
processes are hot
and mainly are
comprised of water
and carbon dioxide.
5. In the presence of hot, water-rich fluids,
solid rock can change in mineral
composition without having to melt.
Metamorphic Rocks
D. Classifying Metamorphic Rocks
1. Metamorphic rocks form from igneous,
sedimentary, or other metamorphic rocks.
2. Heat, pressure, and hot fluids cause
these rocks to change.
3. Each resulting rock can be classified
according to its composition and texture.
Metamorphic Rocks
E. Foliated Rocks
1. When mineral grains line
up in parallel layers, the
metamorphic rock
contains a foliated
texture.
2. Two examples of
foliated rocks are slate
and gneiss.
Slate
3. Slate forms from the sedimentary rock shale.
Metamorphic Rocks
E. Foliated Rocks
4. The minerals in slate are pressed together
so tightly that water can’t pass between
them easily.
5. Because it’s watertight, slate is ideal for
paving around pools and patios.
6. The naturally flat nature of slate and the
fact that it splits easily makes it useful for
roofing and tiling many surfaces.
Metamorphic Rocks
E. Foliated Rocks
7. Gneiss (NISE), another foliated rock, forms
when granite and other rocks are changed.
8. Foliation in gneiss
shows up as
alternating light
and dark bands.
9. Movement of atoms
has separated the dark minerals, such as
biotite mica, from the light minerals, which
are mainly quartz and feldspar.
Metamorphic Rocks
F. Nonfoliated Rocks
1. In some metamorphic rocks, layering does
not occur.
2. The mineral grains grow and rearrange, but
they don’t form layers. This process
produces a nonfoliated texture.
Metamorphic Rocks
F. Nonfoliated Rocks
3. Sandstone is a sedimentary rock that’s
often composed mostly of quartz grains.
4. When sandstone is heated under a lot of
pressure, the grains of quartz grow in size
and become interlocking, like the pieces
of a jigsaw puzzle.
5. The quartz grains in quartzite are not in
layers, so quartzite is a nonfoliated rock.
Metamorphic Rocks
F. Nonfoliated Rocks
6. Marble is another nonfoliated metamorphic
rock.
7. Marble forms from the sedimentary rock
limestone, which is composed of the
mineral calcite.
8. Usually, marble contains several other
minerals besides calcite.
Metamorphic Rocks
F. Nonfoliated Rocks
9. Hornblende and serpentine
give marble a black or
greenish tone, whereas
hematite makes it red.
10. Marble is a popular
material for artists to
sculpt because it is not
as hard as other rocks.
Section Check
3
Question 1
What type of rocks can form from any type of
rock?
A. igneous
B. intrusive
C. metamorphic
D. sedimentary
Section Check
3
Question 2
Name the metamorphic rock texture in which
mineral grains line up in parallel layers.
A. foliated
B. nonfoliated
C. sedimentary
D. volcanic
Section Check
3
Question 3
Which of these is a nonfoliated metamorphic
rock?
A. basalt
B. marble
C. shale
D. slate
Section Check
3
Q 1. Answer
The answer is C. Heat, pressure and hot fluids
trigger changes in various rock types forming
metamorphic rocks.
Section Check
3
Q 2. Answer
The answer is A. Slate is a foliated
metamorphic rock formed from shale.
Section Check
3
Q3. Answer
The answer is B. Marble forms from limestone.
Basalt is an igneous rock. Slate is a foliated
metamorphic rock that forms from the
sedimentary rock, shale.
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